December 30, 2012

Hey everyone, I'm back today to share some Project Life posts that I've had done for a little while. I've taken a little break from my Project + December pages because I've just been enjoying some family time. The girls have another week off and we've really been enjoying just sitting around chatting, putting together puzzles, practicing some archery skills, watching movies, etc. Having teenagers that actually like to hang out with their parents is so cool....so I'd be crazy to sit in my craft room when I can be with my reds.

I'll be sharing lots to ring in the new year...as soon as we get through a New Year's Eve party with 11 kids...+ another kid that kind of invited himself. How could we say no? Now we have snow forecasted for tomorrow night so I'm not sure how this will all pan out.

As I've been editing some older Project Life layouts, I've been able to reflect a lot about my weekly spreads. What I really loved, what I'd like to change, my thoughts on using kit items vs. creating my own stash of PL items, photographs, organization, etc. I'll be composing a new post to kick off my Project Life 2013 soon. Plus I decided to select a One Little Word so I'll be sharing a post on that too.

Okay, here we go with Week 38 of my Project Life for 2012. This is a 2 page spread with inserts which I'll show in a little bit. Here's the 2 page spread. I believe I used items mostly from a scrapbooking kit, challenging myself to use a limited amount of products.

I had a lot of blues in my photos so this kit worked well. Volleyball season was still in full force...rooms were torn apart to be cleaned which about makes me ill looking at those photos, it was a total "back out slowly and shut the door" moment until they were all done.

Little kitties all in a row....a night at the football game.....Survivor.

My weekly dated title card insert. I'll be changing this up a bit for 2013 so stay tuned for those ideas. Loved the arrow Washi tape here and the strip of patterned paper along the edge. Blank Project Life grid cards make for nice focal points on the 4 x 6 cards.

My grid labels with typewriter journaling + lots of handwriting right on the photos. Grid Labels will be back in the shop after the first of the year. Be sure to look for my re-opening after being closed for the holiday season.

The girls' jersey #'s using chipboard letters. They were thrilled once again that Mom needed a photo in public. Really, Mom, hurry up!

A large manila tag from my shop for a Week in Review card with just a little Washi tape.

Stamping on Project Life 3 x 4 cards + some typewriter journaling. Love the stamping as it adds lots of color and interest with ZERO dimension. Stamping is good.

Some items from the kit with stitching. Am really loving the date stamps with little sentiments on them lately.

Here's my 2 page spread with an insert page. I like to show you these shots so you can see how interactive the album becomes when these smaller sized inserts are added. Love them...but am going to be careful in 2013 on the amount I use. I'm almost needing a 3rd album and I really don't want to do that. I'll discuss this more with my 2013 Project Life plans.

Pardon me for the phrasing on the photo in this insert but sometimes.....well, shit happens. And this week it happened about THREE times with Mr. Charles. He turned 1 this week and we couldn't be happier that we added Charlie to our family. But the swimming in the shitty pond for the third time about made me insane. He'd run back to the house with a "look at me, mama!" look on his face, so happy that he got to take a swim with the cows in the ponds that were drying up and all mucky and gross.

This insert was made with a trimmed down 12 x 12 page protector that had (4) 6 x 6 inserts. I left about an inch of space on the right to add some patterned paper and a tab. This helps to create a visual break from the insert & the pages beneath.

Turning the page, this is the back side of the above insert. On the right I trimmed down another Project Life page protector. If you've followed along with my PL, you'll know that I prefer my inserts to be smaller than the 12 x 12 main spread.

Kit items were used on this 6 x 6 insert.

And some more on this insert. Changing a photo to black and white here and there is kind of fun + it masks any weird colors or blurry photos.

More typewriter journaling on a Project Life grid card + a small photo created using the Diptic app on my iPhone. Several of you have asked....the typewriter font is from an actual vintage typewriter that I use for journaling. I just slip my cards into the typewriter and type away.

The very back of the inserts has photos of when Josey got her braces removed. I did a very similar layout for Jordan when she got her braces off, using the same poses when I took photos. I like to keep the photos as the focus of my layouts so it doesn't bother me at all to have some inserts that look very "photo album" like with just photos dropped in. I never try to use all the kit items or products from one line on my Project Life pages. Keeping the pages more simple keeps the focus on the photos.

A little bit of scrapping on one insert with some kit items used. It was fun to challenge myself to use only kit items this week. As far as the Becky Higgins Project Life core kits, my one year term is up for the Project Life Creative Team so I'll be continuing to share my PL pages but I'll be mixing things up a bit as far as products used and some new approaches.

I'm excited to get started on my Project Life 2013 pages.....and just as excited to wrap up the Christmas pages for the last few weeks of December. The red and green has to go for a while. :) I'm ready for some fresh, new colors and patterns.....how about you? I'll be sharing the remainder of all of my Project Life 2012 pages over the next few weeks. Such an awesome way to scrapbook, I hope if you're on the fence you give it a go for 2013. I also will be in need of some card stash replenishing so for all you card makers, never fear. Fun new items for the shop will slowly be making their way into my shop also. Here's to a Happy New Year everyone!!

December 24, 2012

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! I had a nice morning drinking coffee and sitting by the warm fire with my little family. We're off to our first big family dinner today at my mom and dad's but first I wanted to share another week of my Project Life.

If you've been following my posts, you know that I've been combining my Project Life pages with a December Daily of sorts....calling it Project + December. It's worked out really well for me and I love the festive look the last few weeks of my album. Today I'm also sharing my pages over at Elle's Studio. There's been a fabulous month long blog event featuring some great folks and I'm so happy that Elle asked me to join in on the fun. I used lots and lots of Elle's printed tags and journaling this year in my Project Life and will continue to do so next for Project Life 2013. You simply must add some of Elle's goodies, and now stamps, to your Project Life product list.

On to the pages. I'll try to keep the talk short since we're all hustling and bustling for the holiday. Here's the 2 page full spread. Lots of my pre-made journaling cards which was a huge time saver.

Christmas cards in the making, some classic Christmas movies and a little story about an ornament. I used lots of Elle's 4 x 6 journaling cards for my main, dated insert. So easy to layer with other embellishments.

The traditional hot peanuts, Eric's work party, a nice cozy fire and Jordan got her first deer.

Here I tried some glitter on October Afternoon chipboard letters + a cute snowman tag.

A little flipper photo for a story underneath. I used various numbers throughout my pages just like you do in a traditional Daily December type album.

The inside of the flipper photo. I created a pocket by stitching on a large manila tag from my shop. (Check back for a grand update in January) Inside the pocket I tucked in 2 more photos and the story of Eric's hot peanuts. I adhered the tag pocket directly to the outside of the page protector so that the pocket items could be accessed more easily.

Eric's work party. There is always a fun "rob your neighbor" type gift exchange and Eric was determined to get me a battery operated heated scarf. Just what I always wanted. ;) A 4 x 6 Elle's Studio card was the perfect foundation for this mini layout.

The 3 x 4 inserts, complete with a Week in Review card + a list of our favorite Christmas tv shows and movies. Notice the little circle journaling spots from Elle's Studio. I love to tuck those in here and there.

I had a blank spot so I used a Project Life card with stitched on patterned paper, an Elle's Studio tag + sequins and an October Afternoon tin pin. On the right card I used one of the Studio Calico arrows that I stamped on.

More 3 x 4 cards, using an Elle's journaling card for a base.

The weather update which I fancied up with a snowflake and some glittery snow confetti from my stash. On the right I created a fun pocket using polka dot vellum and a tag from my shop. The deer image was from the Gossamer Blue Daily December Kit. I adhered all of this to the outside of the page protector again. The pockets are just too fun to be tucked inside the plastics.

Here's my 2 page Project Life with the inserts tucked in. I really love inserts because I know more goodies are tucked in between the pages.

You've seen this insert as I had pre-made it some time ago. It's a pocket page that holds my lists. I love how it looks with a few actual lists tucked inside.

Turn the page for the next set of inserts, a 2 page spread about putting up our Christmas tree. Note: Due to Charlie's constant wagging tail & 5 broken ornaments, the tree now has ornaments from 3' up and higher. And no presents under the tree, that would be a playground for Charlie.

This 8.5 x 11 photo of our living room was embellished with a simple journaling piece from Evalicious. Be looking for more of her items on my pages for 2013 as I love her style.

Some closeups of the inserts. The star of wonder insert is a 3 x 4 Elle's Studio journaling card. The glittery tree is a Studio Calico wood veneer piece that I covered with shiny green glitter.

The next set of inserts featuring my holiday decor + the Senior Citizen's Dinner we attended as guests for Eric being on the School Board.

My favorite part of this week, just so festive and colorful. I used a pre-made 4 x 6 card that I made from Elle's products. I had a piece of the polka dot vellum stitched on and then I added more stitching and some confetti to create a fun base for yet another Elle's tag. Stamping is from Ali Edwards' holiday set.The bottom journaling card was from my pre-made stash and has a stamped sentiment from Elle's Christmas set.

A few photos accented with an Elle's tag and an October Afternoon Santa brad.

Inserts from the school dinner. I used a 3 x 4 Elle's journaling card on the left, layered with a photo and the bottle cap pin that the art students made for the guests. I just popped off the pin backing. On the right is a journaling card featuring a large circle tag from Elle's. I love how the circles add fun twist to the inserts.

The very back page features photos from the girls' basketball tournament. Both JV and Varsity teams took FIRST PLACE! So proud of my girls.

I love how this pre-made holiday card worked for my basketball photos. The "joyful" sentiment definitely fit in with the theme of my photos. A short story I must tell: Jordan had just stolen the ball and made a layup for 2 pts. The other team was taking out the ball under our basket. Jordan and her best friend deflect the ball and are scrambling on the floor for it. Kara is sprawled on the floor and passes it to Jordan who is on her knees. She can't get up or she will get called for traveling. So she shoots the ball while on her knees. AND SHE SCORES THE BASKET! The crowd goes WILD! Best shot ever made!! And the funny thing is Jordy tells us afterwards that she and Kara practice that shot all the time in PE class for some weird reason. It paid off! And no, I didn't get the photo, dang it, but I will remember this story forever. :)

A special thank you again to Elle and Jenni for having me guest at Elle's blog today. Here's to another great year of Project Life in 2013. I'll be back with some of those fun posts I've been promising....slow but sure. :)

Survery....I'm debating on whether to keep the white borders for my photos or print them borderless. What do you think???

And with that I wish you a joyful holiday season. Our hearts are all heavy for those that have lost their loved ones this year. I think a lot about my grandparents and my brother Jeff, wishing they could see my sweet girls and be with us. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who is missing their special someone this year.

December 20, 2012

Hey everyone, we got a little dusting of snow + some freezing rain so it's a snow day for the reds. They are very excited to not have to take their final tests today.

I'm back today to share a gift idea for the fellas. Each year my husband orders these hot Cajun peanuts for his work. They dump them into a big wheel barrow and customers and staff can help themselves. He works with lots of contractors so so the fellas love the peanuts. We started order 25 pounds for ourselves and package them up each year for gifts. They're fun to hand out to guests, at the ballgames and to tuck into treat trays for family and neighbors.

I package them up differently each year and for 2012 I dug out some plastic cone bags, twine, Washi tape, stamps, tags from my shop and some small printed Instagrams.

I made a few different versions of the tags. These below feature a stamped sentiment from the October Afternoon December holiday kit + some typing from my vintage typewriter. I adhered my photo, added some Washi, stitched with that red stitching again and added a small wooden snowflake. Very manly, don't you think?

I make up 5 or so at a time until they're all handed out and then make a new version.

Here's a second version of the tag with some simple red stitching on the Washi, a stamped sentiment and a handwritten sentiment by me.

Very simple and easy because we all know that the men will probably ditch the tags and go straight for the peanuts!

Hope you're all snuggled in warm and safe, wherever you are. Jordy and I made some Peppermint Pretzel Bark this morning and then I tossed a seasoned pork roast in the crock pot for some BBQ sandwiches with slaw for tonight. I'm thinking a nice crackling fire is in order then some work for me. :)

December 17, 2012

So how are we all today? I sent my little Jordy back to school today. She gets so tired when she gets sick. I think her asthma just literally knocks the wind out of her. I worry about my little chicklets...just as so many of you did today sending your little ones back to school. Even though my kids are high schoolers, a mama's heart is always with her children.

But to brighten things up I have a fun gift wrapping session to share with you. I just love the photo below....a sweet pile of girly gifts + a lot of fun, colorful wrap. I truly love to gift wrap and I just want you to know that I'm planning so many fun kits & gift wrapping items for the shop next year. I think the packaging of a gift just makes the present so much more meaningful.

The girls always do a little gift exchange with some of their best girlfriends from school. I love this tradition and look forward to it every holiday season. So much so that the girls' gifts are my most favorite to search for and help wrap. This year I shopped locally at Maurices, a favorite place the girls like to shop for clothes and accessories. I picked out the gifts this year due to time constraints and I found these cute floral headbands and stretchy flower rings. They came to about $8.00 each with a buy one/get one 1/2 off sale + a $10 bonus coupon I had. I don't like to give junky gifts so I always hit a sale to find something of better quality. Last year the girls gave these initial necklaces for gifts + Jordan did the gift wrapping.

I also found these adorable gift sacks at our local Bath & Body shop for $1.50 each. Too cute to resist & I always like to find a little something special for these girly gifts. They each came with a big piece of pink tissue paper + the pink gingham tag. I added some silver Washi tape and some medium grey tags from my shop to the mix. (Note: My shop will be have a grand update in January so stay tuned.)

To fancy up the small tags and add a place for a to/from sentiment I taped the small pink tags to the larger grey tags. I then used an October Afternoon December kit stamp on the grey tag. I just rounded the stamp and stuck it to my clear block. I thought the silver lanes part went perfect with the gift sack photo + I tucked in a candy cane for each girl too.

I dug in my holiday stash and found these fun pom poms so I stuck them on with a dimensional tab.

Now I was ready for the girls to add the to/from sentiments. By using a Bic/Sharpie type marker, the ink dries fast and doesn't smear on slick surfaces.

I tucked the gifts inside the tissue and then put the tissue in the sacks. I tied up the pink ribbon with my tags hanging down in front. I tucked in a candy cane and was good to go.

Eight little gift sacks all in a row. What teenage girl wouldn't be giddy to receive a fun gift like this. I know I would have loved it! I had such a fun time dressing up these store bought sacks.

I think that why I love wrapping these girly gifts each year is that it's only ONE GIFT. You get one shot to make a perfect presentation for that someone special. So the hunt for a perfect gift (that is still rather inexpensive) + the perfect packaging is always an especially fun task. I hope you enjoy! Please join me here again tomorrow as I'll be showing a little something special for the fellas.